Province announces back-to-school plan 

Photo credit: Communications Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s back-to-school plan was released on Monday and it sees masks required initially for anyone inside school buildings or on a bus. It does allow for masks to be removed when the person is eating and drinking, participating in physical activity, and for breaks where people are physically distanced.  The province says when schools reopen students can expect full in-class learning, and full resumption of music classes, band, sports, and the use of cafeterias, lockers and cubbies.  Officials say that when Nova Scotia moves into Phase 5 of its reopening plan, which is set for September 15th, masks will become optional, with support for those who want to continue using them.  The Nova Scotia Teachers Union says it is pleased with the mask requirements, but Union President Paul Wozney says he believes that until the pandemic is over, every student that can, should be required to wear a mask in school.

 

N.S. targets Sept. 15 to begin Phase 5, tightens N.B. border

Nova Scotia is targeting September 15th as the start of the Phase 5 of its reopening plan, which will see border measures continue while most other public health restrictions are lifted.  Premier-designate Tim Houston says the requirement to self-isolate after travel has been the main line of defence to protect Nova Scotians from COVID-19 and that won’t change for travellers who are not fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, New Brunswickers who aren’t fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be treated like travellers from outside the Atlantic region and must isolate upon entering Nova Scotia.  Premier-designate Tim Houston cited rising cases in New Brunswick as the reason people coming from that province with just one dose of vaccine will have to isolate for a week and produce a negative test. Unvaccinated travellers, meanwhile, will face two weeks of isolation upon entering the province.  The policy is the same as the one already in place for travellers coming from provinces and territories outside Atlantic Canada.  The new border policy kicks in at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25.

As of Sept. 15, the only restrictions that will remain in place for the general population within Nova Scotia are those related to management of COVID-19 cases. For example, anyone with symptoms must still get tested, isolate while they wait for results and continue to isolate if they test positive.  Precautions include staying home when sick, washing hands regularly, coughing and sneezing into your elbow and regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces. While masks will no longer be mandatory in most places, it will be strongly recommended that everyone wear them in indoor public places when they’re around other people, especially during the fall and winter which is typically cold and flu season.  Masks will still be required for staff in long-term care facilities. Healthcare facilities will continue to set their own policies for masks and visitation.  Businesses and other organizations are also free to set their own mask policies.

 

Nova Scotia reports 17 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday

On Monday, Nova Scotia reported 17 new cases of COVID-19 since the last update on Friday.  Eleven of the cases are in Central Zone. Six are related to travel. Five are close contacts of previously reported cases.  Four cases are in Northern Zone and are close contacts of previously reported cases.  Two cases are in Western Zone and are related to travel.

 

N.S. top court: Judges must consider systemic racism when sentencing Black offenders

An anti-racism advocate is praising a recent decision from Nova Scotia’s top court which says trial judges should consider systemic racism facing Black offenders when they prepare sentences. Robert Wright, the executive director for the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition, calls the decision “a turning of the tides.”  The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal made the ruling last week in the case of Rakeem Rayshon Anderson, who was found guilty on five firearm-related charges in June 2019.  The province’s highest court says if judges consider systemic issues facing Black Nova Scotians, it could help reduce the levels of incarceration. (With files from the Canadian Press)